C. Richard Newsome

Attorney

It’s one thing to fight for what’s right. It’s quite another to take on the country’s most powerful corporations while doing so. From the start of his career – becoming, at age 24, the youngest Assistant U.S. Attorney in the nation – Rich Newsome hasn’t shied away from a big fight against a big opponent. Because the cause is even bigger. He’s taken on organized crime, and America’s largest automakers – something few attorneys are willing to do. In the process, Rich hasn’t just made a name for himself. He’s made new lives possible for the clients who depend on him.

One of the nation’s foremost experts on products liability law, Rich has written and spoken extensively on topics including tire, airbag, seatbelt, and child safety seat defects. He’s developed a track record – and a reputation – for bringing answers and hope to victims of catastrophic spinal cord and brain injuries. He’s lectured on trial strategies. For most lawyers, ultra-complex litigation is a career highlight. For Rich Newsome, it’s business as usual.

So is winning. A former defense lawyer, Rich understands how the other side thinks, because he’s been there, and done that, himself. It doesn’t just give him insight into the strategies and tactics of his opponent. It gives him – and his clients – an edge.

Over the years, Rich has won a string of multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements. Just as importantly, his efforts on behalf of clients have spurred the recall of dangerous, defective products. And as a leading member – and now president – of the Florida Justice Association, Rich has lobbied, advocated, and fought for the rights of consumers, and for laws that better protect them. Little wonder, then, that the AV-rated lawyer (the highest possible) has won a host of accolades from his peers, including being named to “The Best Lawyers in America” list, and “Florida’s Legal Elite.” But Rich has done something more, too. He’s sent a message to powerful companies that, for too long, never had to hear: When wrongful behavior does harm, there will be consequences. And justice.

Bar Admissions:

• State of Florida, 1989
• State of New Mexico, 2009
• State of Texas, 2009
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1993
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2000
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1996
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1990
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1998

Honors and Awards:

Florida Justice Association, President 2008-2010

The Best Lawyers in America, 2003 - 2010

AV Rated Attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, 2004 - 2010

Florida's Legal Elite by Florida Trends Magazine, 2005 - 2010

Best Lawyers in Orlando; Orlando Magazine, 2004 - 2010

Florida Lawyer's Action Group, Chairman's Outstanding Electoral Achievement Award, 1999

United States Department of Justice Special Achievement Award, 1991

Million Dollar Advocates, 2004 - Present

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Florida Justice Association ( FJA ), Executive Committee, 2005 - 2009

5th District Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Commission, Member,
1999 - 2005; Chairman, 2001 - 2002

Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association (CFTLA), President, 2004 - 2005

Florida Lawyers Action Group, Trustee, 2001 - Present

American Association for Justice (AAJ), Board of Governors, 1999 - 2004

American Association for Justice (AAJ), Committee on Scientific and Medical Integrity, Member, 1999 - 2004

Florida Justice Association (FJA), Board of Directors, 1998 - Present

Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association (CFTLA), Member, 1997 - Present

American Association for Justice (AAJ), Products Liability Section, Member and Contributing Editor, 2001 - Present

Orange County Republican Executive Committee's Leadership, Member, 2000

American Association for Justice (AAJ), Section on Toxic and Environmental Torts, Member, 1998 - 1999

New Majority Political Action Committee, Chairman, 1997 - 1998

Published Works:

Used Tires: Are They Worth the Risk?, FJA Journal, June 2007

Golf Cart or Low Speed Vehicle?, FJA Journal, April/May 2007

Other Similar Incident Discovery in Products Cases, FJA Journal, March 2007

Child Safety Seats, FJA Journal, February 2007

Automobile Black Boxes: The Electronic Witness, FJA Journal, January 2007

Tire Aging: New Evidence of an Emerging Issue,
AFTL Journal, November/December 2006

Neutralizing Restrictive Confidentiality Orders, AFTL Journal, October 2006

Primer: Combating Stonewalling, Part 1,AFTL Journal, September 2006

Primer Series Discovery: Interrogatories,AFTL Journal, August 2006

Spare Tire: Ticking Time Bomb for Unwary Consumers,AFTL Journal, July 2006

Products Liability Primer: Parties to a Products Liability Action,
AFTL Journal, June 2006

Ending the Dauber Debate,AFTL Journal, May 2006

Primer: Civil Rule 1.140 Defenses,AFTL Journal, April 2006

Products Liability Primer Causes of Action: Warranty Based Claims,
AFTL Journal, March 2006

Civil Remedies for Crime Victims,
National Crime Victims Advocates Association seminar, February 2006

Products Liability Primer Causes of Action: Strict Liability and Negligence, AFTL Journal, February 2006

Survey of 2005 Verdicts and Settlements in Vehicle Products Liability Cases
Reveals Rollover/Roof Crush Defects Still Far Outnumber Other Defects as
a Cause of Accidents Involving Catastrophic Injuries,
AFTL Journal, January 2006

Proposed Changes to Roof Crush Standards Hurt More Than They Help,
AFTL Journal, October 2005

Holding Defendants to Their Proof on the Seat Belt Defense,
AFTL Journal, September 2005

Calculating Setoffs in Crashworthiness Cases, AFTL Journal, June 2005

Spotting a Products Liability Claim in Auto Cases, AFTL Journal, May 2005

Admissibility of "Other Similar Incident" Testimony, AFTL Journal, March 2005

Vioxx - When Is It A Prescription For Litigation, Products Liability Update, Winter 2004

VIOXX - Next Big Mass Tort?, AFTL Journal, November/December 2004

Investigating and Preparing the Complex Products Case,
Mass Tort Made Perfect Seminar, November 2004

Dealing with the "Morris Inquiry", AFTL Journal, September/October 2004

Dealing with the "Catch Me If You Can" Defense (also known as the
Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction), AFTL Journal, July 2004

Pitfalls for the Unwary, AFTL Journal, June 2004

Federal Pre-emption of State Tort Claims, AFTL Journal, April/May 2004

Applicability of Set-Off in Multi-Party Product Litigation,
AFTL Journal, February/March 2004

The "Other" Statute of Limitations: Florida's Statute of Repose for
Products Liability Actions, AFTL Journal, January 2004

The New Florida Government Rules Defense: Challenges,
Arguments and Suggestions for the Plaintiff Lawyer, AFTL Journal, December 2003

Generation I Airbags: Defective by Design? Overview of the Risks,
the Benefits and the Litigation, AFTL Journal, November 2003

Consumer Expectations Test Under Siege by Manufacturers, AFTL Journal, October 2003

Tire Litigation: An Old Problem, New Developments, AFTL Journal, September 2003

Sources of Defect Information for a Personal Injury, Product Liability Vehicle Case,
AFTL Journal, August 2003

The Automobile Safety Recall Process, AFTL Journal, July 2003

Confessing Fault, AFTL Journal, June 2003

Head Injury and the Recreational Helmet, AFTL Journal, April/May 2003

Investigation of the Automobile Product Liability Case, AFTL Journal, February/March 2003

Recent Developments in Automobile Child Safety Systems, AFTL Journal, January 2003

Automobile Seats Can Cause Death or Serious Injury in Rear Impact Collisions,
AFTL Journal, November/December 2002

Florida Trial Attorneys Continue Fight Against Big Tobacco, AFTL Journal, October 2002

Seatbelt Buckles Unlatch in Crashes, AFTL Journal, September 2002

Ford Sued For Crown Victoria Defect Claim, AFTL Journal, August 2002

Roof Crush: An Overview of Defect and Injury Mechanisms, AFTL Journal, July 2002

Fifteen Passenger Vans, AFTL Journal, June 2002

Mattress Flammability, AFTL Journal, May 2002

Sport Utility Vehicle Rollovers, AFTL Journal, March/April 2002

Defect Overview, AFTL Journal, February 2002

New Crashworthiness Decision Huge Win for Consumers, AFTL Journal, January 2002

Cross Examination of the Biomechanics Expert, AFTL Seminar, 1999

Handling the 3d Party Products Liability Case, AFTL Seminar, 1999

Education:

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1989
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Honors: Moot Court, 1987-1989
Honors: American Jurisprudence Book Award in Evidence
Honors: Member, Board of Masters
Honors: Chancellor, Student Honor Court
Honors: Winner, National Prince Evidence Appellate Moot Court Competition, 1988

Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 1986
Bachelor of Science
Major: Economics
Major: Political Science

Fraternities:

Pi Kappa Alpha

Past Employment Positions:

U.S. Department of Justice, Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1989 - 1992

Birth Location:

Fayetteville, North Carolina